To the world , he was known as `` Chespirito . '' Roberto Gomez Bolanos gained fame as a comedian , but he was also a writer , actor , screenwriter , songwriter , film director and TV producer .

The legendary entertainer died Friday at the age of 85 at his home in Cancun , Mexico . A native of Mexico City , Gomez Bolanos had been living in the resort town for the last few years due to health problems .

He leaves behind his wife , Florinda Meza , also an actress and comedian , and six children from a previous marriage .

Gomez Bolanos ' death was confirmed by Televisa , the Mexican media conglomerate where he spent most of a career that spanned more than four decades , mainly on television .

Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto expressed his condolences . `` Mexico has lost an icon whose work has transcended generations and borders , '' the President said on his Twitter account .

According to his official biography , Gomez Bolanos got his nickname from a film director who , after reading something he 'd written , dubbed him `` a little Shakespeare . '' The term was later adapted to the more Spanish-friendly Chespirito . The fact that he was only 5 feet 2 inches tall -LRB- 1.6 meters -RRB- reinforced the nickname .

Fellow actor and comedian Edgar Vivar called Gomez Bolanos `` the best writer of Spanish-language television . ''

Vivar , who played several Chespirito 's characters , said that part of Gomez Bolanos ' genius was `` that he wrote -LRB- TV shows -RRB- based on the individual actor 's or actress ' acting ability , '' which allowed for better and funnier comedy situations .

His son Roberto Gomez Fernandez , also a TV producer , said his father had `` an extraordinary knowledge of human nature in many respects , '' which allowed his TV shows to be translated into multiple languages without losing their comedic impact .

`` His ultimate intention was to entertain audiences in a wholesome way , '' Gomez Fernandez said of his father , who never used profanity or situations not appropriate for children on his shows or movies .

Gomez Bolanos was born in 1929 . According to his official biography , his father was a painter , sketch artist and newspaper illustrator . Though trained as an engineer , Chespirito never worked as one , choosing instead to write for TV and radio shows and screenplays starting in the mid-1950s .

By 1968 , Gomez Bolanos was already writing for his own show , and by 1971 , he had developed two of his most famous TV characters .

In `` El Chapulin Colorado '' -LRB- `` The Red Grasshopper '' -RRB- , Chespirito dressed in a red bodysuit and wore vinyl antennae . A parody of superheroes like Batman and Superman , the Red Grasshopper had certain powers , like the ability to shrink .

`` El Chavo del Ocho '' -LRB- `` The Boy from Number Eight '' -RRB- was an orphan boy from a working-class Mexico City neighborhood .

By 1973 , both TV series were popular throughout Latin America .

`` While the parents of my friends went to work building houses or to hospitals or attorneys ' offices , my dad would dress in all red , wore antennae and went to work , '' Gomez Fernandez said . `` It was kind of normal to me . As I grew up , I started to realize how relevant his work was . ''

Televisa said Chespirito 's TV shows `` were watched in Mexico , just like they were watched in Brazil , Thailand or Russia . '' According to Televisa , `` El Chavo del Ocho '' has been dubbed into 50 languages .

Chespirito 's last show was produced in 1995 , but his catchphrases and sayings continue to be part of Mexican culture . El Chapulin Colorado has also been profiled in the American TV series `` The Simpsons . ''

His first message on Twitter on May 28 , 2011 , was `` siganme los buenos , '' or `` follow me , those of you who are good , '' a phrase that he constantly used on his shows and that many people still use in Mexico and elsewhere .

People we 've lost in 2014

@highlight

Known as `` Chespirito , '' Gomez Bolanos was also a writer , actor , director and producer

@highlight

President says his work `` transcended generations and borders ''

@highlight

His two most famous TV characters were a superhero and an orphan boy